Arizona weekly citizen., 1887-05-07
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. A

NAsHINGfoS, April B.
 There really does not seem to ba ron,,I, foundation for all the "extra sessi,,,, talk that Is again being indulyed in The only reason that there would ba fo- calling an extra session would be In ,a. sn early reduction of the surplus rev- enue, which a good many people tbinl IS going to be piled up. mountain high by the time congress meets again. Rut let us see about that. We are now within sixty days of the close of tbe fiscal year. and there are yet practically twenty millions of the three Der cen, bonds out, that may be called st any time. The sccumulations of surplus are going on at the rate of about tsn mil lions month. From July Ist to the date or the meeting Of congress is five months. The accumulations oT sprDlps at the ordinary rate by that time woul6 be about fifty millions. The Treasury Department, however, IS required to buy, during the next fiscal year forty Tour millions of bonds for the sinking fund. These, st the rate of premium which 1t must pay will cost abous an even fifty millions, So it does moi seem probable that the date for the regular meeting ot congress will find the Treas ury Nltn hn accumulation of surplus. Of course 1t may fake congress some time 10 devise g. satisfactory plan for reiuc- Ing the surplus, but even going is three months to do this-and 1t can do so if It desires m less than that time-tbe accumulatlons need not be more than twenty i've or thirty millions; all of which could be immediately put into circulation, II indeed, by the purchase ot bonds ln the open market
 THE sLEIGHING SEASON.
 The leaves are out upon the thousands of trees in the city, flowers are sbund- snt III the parks, and the troops of chil- dren coming iu from Tamblys Ia the woods upon the surrounding hills, come laden, with great bu5ches Of wild flow CTS. The markets are fuil of fresh vega- tables and fruits, strawberries, peas, beans, asparagus and new potatoes. Yet only few hours ride Co the north the ground Is still hidden with h heavy coating of snow. A gentleman of this city who hEs just come from visit to Name says tine snow Is from three to four feet deep on the level iu the woods Of Maine, and Tn one of the principal cites or that state he found snow drifts more than seven feet high. The pe0- pie mp there would scarcely believe me, he said, "when l told them that there were leaves ou tue trees, and green grass and flowers in Washington
 BIG GUNS AND HEAVILY ARMED VESSELS. The war and navy department people have been watching the recent experi. ments in pig guns, iu England, with good deal of interest. Fast Gs the art of iron ship bHilding progresses, the art of destruction keeps fairly ahead Of IL Eogland's war ships have iron ar nor two feet thick, backed by two feet more of teak wood, Yet the caunoos that have been recently tested will put a ball twice as large as c. mans head through this four feet oi Iron and wood | as though it were made of green cheese. The cannon which does this work weighs l llO tons, and with its carriage weighs over POO tons. IL is If feet long, and carries ball which weighs 250O pounds, Bs much as 90 average men. It cGn carry this ball, II is said, nearly 10 mics. It takes almost 6 thousand pounds of powder, half a wagon load, to fire the gun once. The gun is fl feet long, or twice gs long as the width of the average residence Tn the average city. The "bore." or hole through which the ball IS fired IS l6ii ID diameter or biz enough for man to crawl into. It IS capable. 1t is claimed, of sending s 2500 pound ball through three feet Of solid iron RrmOr.
 GOSSIP.
 AIr, John Mclean of fhc Cincinnati Ea4uirer spends good deal ei his time here now. HIs new home ou Msc- Phersou rquare is beautiful one, and Ee seems to be eBj ping it. Ton c.n see him almos. any fias dsy walking no9at ,he streets -i;n Ei- Eiie upon hIs arm, gazing n the shop windows as they pass